bind

From Wiktionary

Pronunciation[change]

Verb[change]

Plain form
bind

Third-person singular
binds

Past tense
bound

Past participle
bound

Present participle
binding

  1. (transitive) If you bind something put rope or string around it, often many times.
    She tied the rope around their hands, binding them tightly together.
    He bound the books with string and carried them downstairs.
  2. (transitive) If something binds two people or things, it connects them.
    Now that he couldn't walk, he was bound to his nurse.
  3. (transitive), (usually passive) If someone is bound by a rule, promise, etc., they must not break it.
    The media are not bound by the same rules that govern lawyers.
    When they join the European Union, they will have to agree to be bound by the European Convention on Human Rights.
    The president is not bound to sign any law that Congress sends up.
  4. (transitive & intransitive) If two things bind, they stick together.
    Carbon binds with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.
  5. (transitive) If you bind a book, you put it together so the pages stay together.

Synonyms[change]

Related words[change]

Noun[change]

Singular
bind

Plural
binds

  1. (countable) A bind is a difficult position or situation.
    I've lost my job and I'm in a terrible bind.

Related words[change]